H. Res. 499 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

March 11, 2014. 

Whereas the United States has been strongly committed to 

the sovereignty, democratic development, and prosperity 

of Ukraine since it secured its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991; 

Whereas on January 29, 2014, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives agreed to House 

Resolution 447, supporting the democratic and European 

aspirations of the people of Ukraine and their right to 

choose their own future free of intimidation and fear, 

which resolution was agreed to by the House of Representatives on February 10, 2014; 

Whereas the Ukrainian people have the right to freely determine their future, including their country’s relationship 

with other countries and international organizations, 

without interference, intimidation, or coercion by other 

countries; 

Whereas closer relations with Europe hold out the prospect 

of a more stable and prosperous Ukraine, which would be 

of benefit to all countries, including Russia; 

Whereas the military intervention by the Russian Federation 

in Crimea is a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity; 
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Whereas this military intervention is a violation of international law, including the Russian Federation’s obligations under the United Nations Charter; 

Whereas this military intervention is a violation of the Russian Federation’s obligations under the 1994 Budapest 

Memorandum on Security Assurances, in which it 

pledged to respect the independence and sovereignty and 

the existing borders of Ukraine and to refrain from the 

threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or 

political independence of Ukraine; 

Whereas by its military intervention in Ukraine, the Russian 

Federation has violated the provisions of the Helsinki 

Final Act Declaration of Principles Regarding Relations 

Between Participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 

Whereas the Russian Federation’s military intervention in 

Crimea represents a reckless escalation of its long-standing efforts to pressure Ukraine through political, diplomatic, and economic means to reduce its ties to Europe 

and the West and force it into a closer association with 

Russia, including through the establishment of a Eurasian Union; 

Whereas the Russian Federation has used and is continuing 

to use coercive economic measures, including the manipulation of energy prices and supplies, and trade restrictions to place political pressure on Ukraine and other 

countries in the region; 

Whereas the Government of Ukraine has exercised extraordinary restraint to date in response to the use of force 

against it on its territory; 
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Whereas the instability in Ukraine has forced 230 Peace 

Corps volunteers to leave Ukraine; and 

Whereas the immediate deployment of international monitors 

from either the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe or the United Nations to Crimea and in 

other Ukrainian regions would provide transparency and 

objective reporting regarding threats of violence and military activity, and regarding civil and political rights, and 

also enhance the security of the Ukrainian people in all 

regions: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) condemns the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity by military forces of the Russian Federation; 

(2) states that the military intervention by the Russian Federation— 

(A) is in breach of its obligations under the 

United Nations Charter; 

(B) is in violation of the 1994 Budapest 

Memorandum on Security Assurances, in which it 

pledged to respect the independence and sovereignty 

and the existing borders of Ukraine and to refrain 

from the threat of use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine; 

and 

(C) poses a threat to international peace and 

security; 
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(3) calls on the Russian Federation to remove all of 

its military forces from Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, 

other than those operating in strict accordance with its 

1997 agreement on the Status and Conditions of the 

Black Sea Fleet Stationing on the Territory of Ukraine, 

and to refrain from interference in all regions of 

Ukraine, including by ending its support of separatist 

and paramilitary forces in Crimea; 

(4) declares that the Ukrainian people have the 

right to determine their own future free from outside interference; 

(5) commends the Ukrainian Government for its 

continued restraint and avoidance of military provocations; 

(6) calls on the Ukrainian Government to continue 

to protect the rights of all minority populations within 

Ukraine and make clear that it represents all Ukrainian 

citizens; 

(7) calls on all Ukrainians to respect the legitimate 

government authorities in all parts of Ukraine, including 

in eastern and southern Ukraine, as well as to respect 

all Ukrainian laws and the Constitution of Ukraine; 

(8) calls for the deployment of independent monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Crimea and other areas of Ukraine; 
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(9) calls on NATO allies and European Union 

member states to immediately suspend military cooperation with Russia, including restricting sales to the Russian government of lethal and non-lethal military equipment that might be used to support further aggression 

in Ukraine or elsewhere in the region; 

(10) calls upon the President and the leaders of 

other democratic states to boycott the G–8 summit in 

Sochi, Russia, to convene a G–7 summit in June 2014 

outside of Russia that does not include Russia, and to 

consider expelling Russia from the group, given its 

record of international aggression, domestic repression, 

and human rights records that are inconsistent with 

democratic standards; 

(11) calls on the Administration to work with our 

European allies and other countries to impose visa, financial, trade, and other sanctions on senior Russian 

Federation officials, Russian and Ukranian oligarchs 

and others complicit in Russia’s intervention and interference in Ukraine, majority state-owned banks and 

commercial organizations, and other state agencies, as 

appropriate; 

(12) states that the United States should participate with its European allies, other countries, and international organizations in a coordinated effort to provide 
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the Ukrainian government with financial, economic, and 

technical assistance, including asset recovery, to assist a 

domestic economic recovery program that includes fundamental reforms and effective anti-corruption measures; 

(13) calls on the United States, its European allies, 

and other countries and international organizations to 

provide assistance to ensure that new elections scheduled 

for May 2014 are free, fair, and in full accordance with 

international standards; 

(14) calls on the United States and its European allies, other countries, and international organizations to 

develop a long-term strategy to support economic development and reform in Ukraine, including through enhanced relationships with Western countries, organizations and institutions; 

(15) calls on Ukraine and European countries and 

former Soviet Republics to support energy diversification 

initiatives to reduce Russian control of energy exports, 

including by promoting energy efficiency and reverse 

natural gas flows from Western Europe, and calls on the 

United States to promote increased natural gas exports 

and energy efficiency; 

(16) supports efforts by Ukraine to achieve energy 

independence; 
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(17) supports efforts by Ukraine to improve transparency, combat corruption, and protect individual rights 

through an independent judiciary and strong rule of law; 

and 

(18) affirms the right of all countries in the region 

to exercise their sovereign rights within their internationally recognized borders free from outside intervention and to conduct their foreign policy in accordance 

with their determination of the best interests of their 

peoples. 

Attest: 

Clerk.